Glenn Wolff

A Child’s Christmas in New England by Robert Sullivan, illustrated by Glenn Wolfe, published by Bunker Hill Publishing.

I was excited about receiving this slim volume as I hoped to re-capture some of the warmth of my own New England Christmases back in the 50’s and 60’s. And while the book did bring me part of the way home it couldn’t quite get me all the way there.

The illustrations are delightful and certainly the best part of the book. Both full-page panels and smaller cameos show more capture the mix between fantastical and factual remembrances of our childhood. The illustrations really do transport me back to a time when colors seemed brighter and no event was really ordinary. Childhood, of course! And the larger illustrations are also wonderfully detailed, allowing for a more lingering view.

I enjoyed less the actual story. Though I could identify with many of the vignettes it was the structure of the writing that made the book a bit distracting for me. I felt as though I was often disjointedly moving from one separate story to another. While the stories themselves often had charm, I was especially drawn to the description of the sledding; the net effect of trying to bring them all together was less than charming. Perhaps this book suffered in comparison because of my recent reading of Bill Bryson’s Thunderbolt Kid. And, finally, it felt as though the author ran out of steam. The ending of the book felt more like the ending of the last story in the batch instead of a summation of the entire work.

I give the entire work 3 stars for the compelling illustrations and occasional charm in individual stories. show less

We love this book! My children and my students at school always found it to be amazing. It may be less convincing in today's world of AI but the photos and stories in this book always made believers of even the most cynical kids. What is the world without a little magic?

Free, Early Reviewer Book. What a treat this book is! Like eating comfort food. Love the memories that it evokes of my own 62 Christmases. Going to my grandparents houses and visiting with cousins was the highlight of Christmas. Such wonderful stories about Christmas past. This is my generation and I loved the book!

A Child’s Christmas in New England by Robert Sullivan. Illustrated by Glenn Wolff

The author writes about growing up in Chelmsford, MA at Christmas Time during the 1950's’ and 1960’s. I too grew up near Chelmsford in the late 1950’s and 1960’s and Christmas was always a magical time for us. Like the author, we received skis with bear trap bindings, Lionel trains, Rock’em, Sock’em robots, and G.E. record players and we loved all the colored lights and tinsel.
We also walked our show more Flexible Flyer sleds everywhere to go sledding. We had dogs, too and like the author’s dog, Dutchess, our dogs ate pretty well and they followed us around outside while we sledded and played. We even went to the same Enchanted Village at Jordan Marsh store in Boston and ate lobster Newberg at parties. Our family even had an Olds Cutlass, just like the author’s family. Those days were so much fun. For me, this wonderful book was a trip down memory lane. I loved both the story and the illustrations. A delightful book!! show less